Patient data collection system and method

ABSTRACT

Various systems and methods for collecting patient data are discussed herein. According to some systems and methods, a timer may be started, and a blood pressure data collection system is actuated to obtain a blood pressure measurement of a patient upon the expiration of the timer. The timer may be incorporated into a patient data collection system or method to ensure the patient is relaxed and calm prior to taking a blood pressure measurement. An event may be sensed by an environmental sensor system and the timer may be started in response to sensing the event. A clinician leaving a room where the patient is disposed is one example of an event. An interruption may be sensed by the environmental sensor system and the timer may be terminated in response to sensing the interruption. The clinician entering the room where the patient is disposed in one example of an interruption.

PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional App. No.62/933,551 entitled “Patient Data Collection System and Method,” filedNov. 11, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated by referenceherein.

BACKGROUND

Inaccurate patient data such as blood pressure measurement readings maybe caused by common environmental or interpersonal interactions betweena patient and a healthcare facility and/or a clinician. For example, apatient sitting down in an unfamiliar room with an unknown clinicianstanding beside taking a blood pressure reading will often skew theresult of the reading. Thus, there is a need in the art for reducing theenvironmental and interpersonal stressors before obtaining a bloodpressure measurement for a patient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims which particularly pointout and distinctly claim the invention, it is believed the presentinvention will be better understood from the following description ofcertain examples taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich like reference numerals identify the same elements and in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a diagrammatic view of an exemplary patient datacollection system;

FIG. 2 depicts a diagrammatic view of an exemplary computer system ofthe patient data collection system of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 depicts a diagrammatic view of an exemplary database system ofthe patient data collection system of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 depicts a diagrammatic view of an exemplary healthcareenvironment incorporating portions of the patient data collection systemof FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5 depicts a diagrammatic view of an exemplary examination room ofthe healthcare environment of FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart of an exemplary method for collecting patientdata; and

FIG. 7 depicts a flowchart of another exemplary method for collectingpatient data.

The drawings are not intended to be limiting in any way, and it iscontemplated that various embodiments of the invention may be carriedout in a variety of other ways, including those not necessarily depictedin the drawings. The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming apart of the specification illustrate several aspects of the presentinvention, and together with the description serve to explain theprinciples of the invention; it being understood, however, that thisinvention is not limited to the precise arrangements shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description of certain examples of the invention shouldnot be used to limit the scope of the present invention. Other examples,features, aspects, embodiments, and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the followingdescription, which is by way of illustration, one of the best modescontemplated for carrying out the invention. As will be realized, theinvention is capable of other different and obvious aspects, all withoutdeparting from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptionsshould be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

It will be appreciated that any one or more of the teachings,expressions, versions, examples, etc. described herein may be combinedwith any one or more of the other teachings, expressions, versions,examples, etc. that are described herein. The following-describedteachings, expressions, versions, examples, etc. should therefore not beviewed in isolation relative to each other. Various suitable ways inwhich the teachings herein may be combined will be readily apparent tothose of ordinary skill in the art in view of the teachings herein. Suchmodifications and variations are intended to be included within thescope of the claims.

I. Exemplary Patient Data Collection System

Referring now to FIG. 1 , a patent data collection system (1) of thepresent invention may include an operating environment (10). In general,patient data collection system (1) operates to coordinate and brokervarious issues or situations that arise regarding collecting patientdata such as a patient's blood pressure measurement or other patientdata, and in particular between a patient, a clinician, and anelectronic medical records system, such as an electronic medical records(EMR) system (200). As used herein, a clinician is intended to includethe person(s) performing the test, such as a doctor, nurse, nursepractitioner, caregiver, etc. Patient data collection system (1) mayfurther include an environmental sensor system (300) and a bloodpressure data collection system (400) within exemplary operatingenvironment (10).

In some versions of operating environment (10), EMR system (200),environmental sensor system (300), and blood pressure data collectionsystem (400) may send and receive communications between one anotherdirectly. Alternatively, in other versions of operating environment(10), EMR system (200), environmental sensor system (300), and bloodpressure data collection system (400) may communicate with each otherindirectly through a network (24). Network (24) may include one or moreprivate and/or public networks (e.g. the Internet) that enable theexchange of data.

One of the features of patient data collection system (1) is related totaking an accurate blood pressure measurement of a patient. In someenvironments, a patient who has rested for a number of minutes in agenerally static position may provide a more accurate blood pressuremeasurement. Similarly, those patients who have refrained fromconversing, interacting, or even seeing a clinician may provide a moreaccurate blood pressure measurement. Still further, those patients whoare situated in a preferred body position with back and feet support aswell as their arm supported at heart level with legs uncrossed mayprovide a more accurate blood pressure measurement. Patient datacollection system (1) is configured to address the positioning andinteraction issues related to taking an accurate blood pressuremeasurement of the patient.

i. Exemplary Computer System

Referring now to FIG. 2 , EMR system (200), environmental sensor system(300), blood pressure data collection system (400), and network (24) ofoperating environment (10) may be implemented on one or more computingdevices or systems, such as an exemplary computer system (26). Computersystem (26) may include a processor (28), a memory (30), a mass storagememory device (32), an input/output (I/O) interface (34), and a HumanMachine Interface (HMI) (36). Computer system (26) may also beoperatively coupled to one or more external resources (38) via network(24) or I/O interface (34). External resources may include, but are notlimited to, servers, databases, mass storage devices, peripheraldevices, cloud-based network services, or any other suitable computerresource that may used by computer system (26).

Processor (28) may include one or more devices selected frommicroprocessors, micro-controllers, digital signal processors,microcomputers, central processing units, field programmable gatearrays, programmable logic devices, state machines, logic circuits,analog circuits, digital circuits, or any other devices that manipulatesignals (analog or digital) based on operational instructions that arestored in memory (30). Memory (30) may include a single memory device ora plurality of memory devices including, but not limited, to read-onlymemory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), volatile memory, non-volatilememory, static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory(DRAM), flash memory, cache memory, or any other device capable ofstoring information. Mass storage memory device (32) may include datastorage devices such as a hard drive, optical drive, tape drive,non-volatile solid state device, or any other device capable of storinginformation.

Processor (28) may operate under the control of an operating system (40)that resides in memory (30). Operating system (40) may manage computerresources so that computer program code embodied as one or more computersoftware applications, such as an application (42) residing in memory(30), may have instructions executed by processor (28). In analternative embodiment, processor (28) may execute the application (42)directly, in which case operating system (40) may be omitted. One ormore data structures (44) may also reside in memory (30), and may beused by processor (28), operating system (40), or application (42) tostore or manipulate data.

I/O interface (34) may provide a machine interface that operativelycouples processor (28) to other devices and systems, such as network(24) or external resource (38). Application (42) may thereby workcooperatively with network (24) or external resource (38) bycommunicating via I/O interface (34) to provide the various features,functions, applications, processes, or modules comprising embodiments ofthe invention. Application (42) may also have program code that isexecuted by one or more external resources (38), or otherwise rely onfunctions or signals provided by other system or network componentsexternal to computer system (26). Indeed, given the nearly endlesshardware and software configurations possible, persons having ordinaryskill in the art will understand that embodiments of the invention mayinclude applications that are located externally to computer system(26), distributed among multiple computers or other external resources(38), or provided by computing resources (hardware and software) thatare provided as a service over network (24), such as a cloud computingservice.

HMI (36) may be operatively coupled to processor (28) of computer system(26) in a known manner to allow a user to interact directly withcomputer system (26). HMI (36) may include video or alphanumericdisplays, a touch screen, a speaker, and any other suitable audio andvisual indicators capable of providing data to the user. HMI (36) mayalso include input devices and controls such as an alphanumerickeyboard, a pointing device, keypads, pushbuttons, control knobs,microphones, etc., capable of accepting commands or input from the userand transmitting the entered input to processor (28).

A database (46) may reside on mass storage memory device (32), and maybe used to collect and organize data used by the various systems andmodules described herein. Database (46) may include data and supportingdata structures that store and organize the data. In particular,database (46) may be arranged with any database organization orstructure including, but not limited to, a relational database, ahierarchical database, a network database, or combinations thereof. Adatabase management system in the form of a computer softwareapplication executing as instructions on processor (28) may be used toaccess the information or data stored in records of database (46) inresponse to a query, where a query may be dynamically determined andexecuted by operating system (40), other applications (42), or one ormore modules.

ii. Exemplary Electronic Medical Records System

As shown in FIG. 3 , in some versions of patient data collection system(1), database (46) may comprise a medical records database (202)associated with EMR system (200). Medical records database (202)contains a set of medical records (204), with at least one recordassociated with a patient and containing patient data in at least onedata field (206). For example, as shown in FIG. 3 with medical record(204 a), field (206 a) may contain a patient's first name, field (206 b)may contain the patient's last name, field (206 c) may contain apatient's height or weight, and field (206 d) may contain a patient'scurrent blood pressure reading. The information in the at least one datafield (206) may be updated and stored within medical records database(202) for use by EMR system (200) as needed or desired by patient datacollection system (1). Medical records (204 a, 204 b) may contain thesame, similar, or different fields compared to fields (206 a-206 d). Forexample, medical record (204 b, 204 c) may contain informationpertaining to different patients compared to medical record (204 a).

In addition, or in the alternative, other metrics or data regarding thepatient, physician, medical environment, or the like may be stored indatabase (46) or otherwise available through patient data collectionsystem (1). In some versions of medical records (204), environmentaladjustments regarding the patient's positioning or other environmentalvariables may be stored in the patient's medical record (204). Forexample, the patients preferred examination table height may be storedin the patient's medical record (204). Alternatively, the physician'spreferred examination table height for a particular patient may bestored in the patient's medical record (204).

iii. Exemplary Environmental Sensor System

Exemplary environmental sensor system (300) is configured to track atleast one person, as the person moves about the healthcare environment.In some versions of environmental sensor system (300), the person may bea patient (302) within the healthcare environment. In other versions,the person may be a clinician (304) within the healthcare environment.In other versions, environmental sensor system (300) is configured totrack both patient (302) and clinician (304) within the healthcareenvironment.

As used herein, the healthcare environment is intended to include ahospital, a physician office having one or more physicians, a skillednursing facility (e.g. a short term care facility or a long term carefacility), or another healthcare setting. For example, as shown in FIG.4 , patient (302) may be associated with a sensor (308) of environmentalsensor system (300) that is configured to track patient (302) throughouthealthcare environment (306). Similarly, clinician (304) may beassociated with a sensor (310) of environmental sensor system (300) tofacilitate tracking of clinician (304) throughout healthcare environment(306). Sensors (308, 310) may be the same or different.

According to an exemplary embodiment, sensor (308) is portable andoperatively coupled with (e.g., attached to, affixed to, positioned on,carried by, worn by, etc.) patient (302). Similarly, sensor (310) isportable and operatively coupled with (e.g., attached to, affixed to,positioned on, carried by, worn by, etc.) clinician (304). For example,sensors (308, 310) may be in the form of a tag or other wearable device,similar to those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,838,992, issued on Jan. 4,2005, and titled “Methods and Systems For Locating Subjects andProviding Event Notification Within a Tracking Environment and Badge ForUse Therein,” and U.S. Pat. No. 6,154,139, issued on Apr. 21, 1998, andtitled “Method and System For Locating Subjects Within a TrackingEnvironment,” the disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference.

In other versions, as shown in phantom in FIG. 4 , sensors (308, 310)may be replaced by a biometric or artificial intelligence system (311)configured to recognize individuals moving about healthcare environment(306). A room sensor may be provided and associated with a particularroom or particular region in healthcare environment (306) to facilitatethe sensing of at least one of patient (302) or clinician (304), aspatient (302) and/or clinician (304) moves about healthcare environment(306). The historical movement and time spent in a particular area maybe stored in a database similar to database (46).

As shown in FIG. 4 , a room sensor (312) may be associated with a firstroom (e.g., an examination room (314)). Similarly, a room sensor (316)may be associated with a second room (shown as a bathroom (318)).Similarly, a room sensor (320) may be associated with a third room(shown as a processing room (322)). As at least one of patient (302) orclinician (304) moves between examination room (314), bathroom (318),and processing room (322), room sensors (312, 316, 320) receive signalsfrom at least one sensors (308, 310) and collect information (e.g.,data) regarding the whereabouts of each individual (e.g., patient (302)or clinician (304)), including the historical movement and the timespent in a particular area or room.

iv. Exemplary Blood Pressure Data Collection System

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , blood pressure data collection system (400)may include an examination table (402), an arm rest (404), a bloodpressure collection device (406) such as a blood pressure cuff, afeedback device (408), a data connection (410) between blood pressurecollection device (406) and feedback device (408), and a scale (412).For example, one such suitable data collection system is a Digital VitalSigns Device, commercially available from Midmark Corporation, ofDayton, Ohio. For example, one such suitable blood pressure cuff is aDigital Vital Signs Device Reusable Blood Pressure Cuff, commerciallyavailable from Midmark Corporation, of Dayton, Ohio. While bloodpressure collection device (406) is depicted as connected to examinationtable (402) through feedback device (408), in other versions of bloodpressure collection system (400), blood pressure collection device (406)and/or feedback device (408) may be separate from examination table(402). Blood pressure data collection system (400) is configured tomeasure the blood pressure of patient (302) and deliver this informationto EMR (200) for storage and consideration by clinician (304).

In some versions, blood pressure data collection system (400) is incommunication with the environmental sensor system and configured tocollect a blood pressure measurement of patient (302) in room (314). Insome versions, blood pressure data collection system (400) is configuredto initiate the collection of the blood pressure measurement of patient(302) based on the position of either patient (302) or clinician (304),or both. In some versions, blood pressure data collection system (400)is configured to refrain from collecting the blood pressure measurementof patient (302) when clinician (304) is within the room.

Examination table (402) may be used to receive patient (302) thereon andprovide a resting place for patient (302) as the blood pressure readingis taken. Some versions of examination table (402) may provide forautomatic correction of height to ensure the feet of patient (302) aresupported by the floor. The automatic correction may be facilitated byinformation provided to examination table (402) through the particularmedical record (204) assigned to patient (302). More specifically, someversions of examination table (402) may be configured to retrieve theheight of patient (302) from the information contained in data field(206 c), as shown in FIG. 3 , and use this information to automaticallyadjust the height of examination table (402).

The height of examination table (402) may be adjusted to align the feetof patient (302) flat on the floor, and therefore, in the preferredposition for taking blood pressure readings. Alternatively, rather thanderiving the correct height of examination table (402) from the heightof patient (302), the desired table height of examination table (402)may be directly stored and retrieved from medical record (204). In otherversions of examination table (402), examination table (402)automatically raises or lowers in conjunction with continuousmeasurements obtained through scale (412) to determine when the feet ofpatient (302) are flat on the floor or in another desirable positionsuch as lifted just off the floor. Logic circuitry is provided for usein determining when the patient is sufficiently lifted, based on theweight measurement provided through scale (412). In other versions ofexamination table (402), the weight of patient (302) is collected andthis information is used to determine when the feet of patient (302) areflat on the floor.

Alternatively, examination table (402) may be configured for manualadjustment of height by patient (302) and/or clinician (304).Examination table (402) may also have a backrest which is movable toabut patient (302) and provide a stable resting area for the torso ofpatient (302). Examination table (402) may further be configured tostore a manual height adjustment within EMR (204) associated with patent(302) for later retrieval and usage on subsequent visits to healthcareenvironment (306) or usage of examination table (402).

Similar to the adjustment of examination table (402), arm rest (404) maybe automatically adjustable or manually adjustable by patient (302)and/or clinician (304). Some versions of arm rest (404) may retrievebiometric data of patient (302) from a particular medical record (204)and adjust the height of arm rest (404) to align with the height of theheart of patient (302). For example, the patient's height may beretrieved from a particular medical record (204) and correlated with aheight of the patient's heart, based on the overall height of thepatient (e.g. from a lookup table). Alternatively, arm rest (404) may beconfigured for manual adjustment of height by patient (302) and/orclinician (304). Arm rest (404) may further be configured to store amanual adjustment within EMR (204) associated with patient (302) forlater retrieval and usage on subsequent visits to healthcare environment(306) or usage of arm rest (404).

Once patient (302) is sufficiently situated on examination table (402)with an arm optionally resting on arm rest (404) and at heart-height,clinician (304) may apply blood pressure collection device (406) to thearm of patient (302). When applied, blood pressure collection device(406) is capable of measuring the blood pressure of patient (302) andtransmitting this information to feedback device (408) through dataconnection (410). In some versions of patient data collection system(1), blood pressure collection device (406) may be actuated to measurethe blood pressure of patient (302) upon actuation of a button or otherelement by clinician (304). In other versions of patient data collectionsystem (1), blood pressure collection device (406) may be automaticallyactuated by feedback device (408) to measure the blood pressure ofpatient (302). In some versions of patient data collection system (1),each available blood pressure collection device (406) includes anidentifier, which may be in the form of a Radio-Frequency Identifier(RFID).

Once a particular blood pressure collection device (406) is applied tothe patient, the size of the applied blood pressure collection device(406) may be recorded by blood pressure data collection system (400) andstored in the particular medical record (204) associated with patient(302). This data may be useful to provide a recommendation of bloodpressure cuff size in the future to a clinician. In other versions ofpatient data collection system (1), an algorithm may be provided togenerate a cuff size recommendation to the clinician based on the heightand/or weight of patient (302) stored in medical record (204) associatedwith patient (302), and a corresponding value in a lookup table.

Feedback device (408) is configured to determine the appropriate timefor measuring the blood pressure of patient (302). In some versions ofpatient data collection system (1), feedback device (408) actuates themeasuring of the blood pressure of patient (302) upon the satisfactionof an environment variable such as the expiration of a timer orcontinuous sensing of the weight of patient (302) on examination table(402) for a set period of time. Waiting to take a blood pressuremeasurement until after the satisfaction of the environment variableensures that the patient has sufficient time to relax and becomeacclimated to the environment, which may lead to a more accurate bloodpressure measurement.

As will be discussed in greater detail below, in those versions ofpatient data collection system (1) where the environmental variable isembodied in a timer, the timer may be initiated in various ways,including via an event sensed by environmental sensor system (300). Uponexpiration of the timer, patient data collection system (1) actuatesblood pressure data collection system (400) to obtain a blood pressuremeasurement from a patient disposed in a room of a healthcare facility.In some versions of patient data collection system (1), the event maycomprise a clinician associated with the healthcare facility leaving theroom. In some versions of patient data collection system (1), the eventmay comprise a person moving within a healthcare facility. In someversions of patient data collection system (1), the event may comprisethe patient moving from a bathroom associated with the healthcarefacility into the room. In some versions of patient data collectionsystem (1), the event may comprise the patient moving into a preferredposition. The preferred position may be based at least in part on a footof the patient resting on a floor or resting on a portion of anexamination table or any other surface. The preferred position may bebased at least in part on an arm of the patient positioned at aparticular height. The preferred position may be based in part on aheartrate and/or a preferred sitting or resting position. The timer mayalso be terminated when environmental sensor system (300) senses aninterruption. In some versions of patient data collection system (1),the interruption may comprise the clinician or another person enteringthe room. The blood pressure measurement is not obtained from thepatient when the timer is terminated.

The timer may be started when clinician (304) leaves examination room(314). This information may be provided by clinician (304) actuating abutton, a door sensor, or provided through room sensor (312) sensingthat clinician (304) has moved out of range via signals between roomsensor (312) and sensor (310). Upon manually or automatically sensingclinician (304) has left examination room (314), environmental sensorsystem (300) signals to feedback device (408) the occurrence of thisevent, which in turn, may actuate feedback device (408) to begin thetimer. Upon expiration of the timer, feedback device (408), by way ofdata connection (410), may actuate blood pressure collection device(406) to measure the blood pressure of patient (302).

The timer may alternatively be associated with scale (412) and initiatedby the sensing of the weight of patient (302) by scale (412). Forexample, upon patient (302) resting on scale (412), feedback device(408) may begin the timer based on scale (412) reading a greater thanzero weight measurement. To ensure patient (302) continues to rest onexamination table (402), feedback device (408) may continuously pollscale (412) to determine whether patient (302) has remained onexamination table (402) for a set period of time. Alternatively, scale(412) may proactively send a signal to feedback device (408) upon anydramatic decrease in the weight on scale (412), which may representpatient (302) moving off examination table (402). The weight sensing ofscale (412) may be alternatively initiated by sensing of clinician (304)leaving examination room (314), provided through environmental sensorsystem (300). Upon the clinician leaving examination room (314),feedback device (408) and scale (412) may begin sensing the weight onscale (412) to determine whether patient (302) is sitting on examinationtable (402) and start the timer.

Once the timer expires, feedback device (408) may actuate blood pressurecollection device (406) to initiate measuring the blood pressure ofpatient (302). After the blood pressure of patient (302) is measured andpassed to feedback device (408) via data connection (410), feedbackdevice (408) provides the measurement data to EMR system (200) forstorage in the particular medical record (204) associated with patient(302).

After the blood pressure of patient (302) is measured and stored in EMRsystem (200), clinician (304) may be notified either directly orindirectly. For example, clinician (304) may be directly notified by wayof sensor (310), using any one or more of vibration, an audible signal,a visual signal, or environmental sensor system (300). Similarly, afeedback mechanism or display within processing room (322) may beactuated to indirectly alert clinician (304) that the blood pressure ofpatient (302) has been measured and stored in EMR system (200). Forexample, feedback device (408) may signal a computer or other electronicdevice within processing room (322) or otherwise associated withclinician (304) or healthcare environment (306) to update a statusassociated with patient (302) to reflect the blood pressure has beenmeasured. Once blood pressure of patient (302) is measured and stored,and clinician (304) may be notified and clinician (304) may attend topatient (302) accordingly.

II. Exemplary Patient Data Collection Methods

i. First Patient Data Collection Methods

Various methods may be used within patient data collection system (1)for collecting a patient's blood pressure within a healthcareenvironment. For example, as shown in FIG. 6 , a patient data collectionmethod (500) may begin with a step (501). In step (501), a clinician orother healthcare worker attaches a blood pressure cuff to a patient'sarm, with the patient residing in an examination room. Thereafter, step(501) proceeds to a step (503), whereby environmental adjustments aremade regarding the examination room and/or the patient's posture,seating arrangement, or proper positioning. For example, if the patientis resting on an examination table, the height of the examination tablemay be adjusted to ensure the patient's feet are resting flat on asurface (e.g., the ground or a foot rest). In some other versions ofstep (503), the height of the examination table may be adjusted toensure the patient's feet are lifted off of the ground entirely. In someversions of step (503), the height or placement of an arm restassociated with the examination table may be adjusted to align thepatient's arm with the patient's heart, or any other desired placementor orientation of the patient's arm.

In some versions of step (503), the examination table and/or the armrest adjustment is performed automatically. This automatic adjustmentmay be based on patient data retrieved from an electronic medicalrecords system similar to medical record (204 a) depicted in FIG. 3 .For example, the patient's height and weight and/or preferred tableheight may be retrieved from an electronic medical records system andused by intelligence logic associated with the examination table toadjust the table a desired height, based on the patient's height andweight data. In other versions of step (503), the back rest of theexamination table is adjusted to the patient, either automatically ormanually, and may be based on information retrieved from an electronicmedical records system. In some versions of step (503), all theenvironmental adjustments and/or patient positioning changes areperformed at the same general time. For example, the arm support may beraised to approximately the patient's heart height while the back restis simultaneously moved to properly position the patient.

In some versions of step (503), after the patient is properlypositioned, the patient's weight may be captured using load cellsdisposed in the examination table. The captured weight data isthereafter transmitted and stored in the electronic medical recordassociated with that patient. The examination table and/or load cellsmay be configured to sense when a patient's feet are on and off thefloor and automatically adjust the examination table to a desired heightfor the patient when the patient's feet are determined to be flat on thefloor.

As shown in FIG. 6 , after sufficient environmental adjustments areperformed, step (503) proceeds to a step (505), whereby it is determinedwhether the clinician has left the examination room. This determinationmay be performed automatically by way of sensors associated with theclinician and/or the examination room. For example, the clinician may bewearing a sensor tag for providing signals to a room sensor, such aselectromagnetic signals provided by an electromagnetic device,ultrasonic signals provided by an ultrasonic device, or other signalsprovided by other suitable devices. More specifically, it may bedetermined that the clinician has left the examination room when theroom sensor detects an absence of the signals emanating from theclinician's sensor tag. Step (505) may repeat until it is determined theclinician has left the examination room, and thereafter, step (505)proceeds to a step (507). In step (507), a timer is initiated for a setamount of time via timer circuitry. The length of the timer may beconfigured by a user or otherwise set or adjusted. Alternatively, thelength of the timer may be static and non-adjustable.

During the timer, or during any other part of patient data collectionmethod (500), environmental adjustments such as soothing music or whitenoise may be introduced into examination room (314) to help relax thepatient. For example, bird or beach sounds may be played for thepatient. The sounds may be generated through blood pressure collectiondevice (406) or feedback device (408) or any other elements of bloodpressure data collection system (400) such as a speaker. The sounds maybe intended to relax the patient, which may result in a more accuratecollection of patient data.

In some versions of patient data collection method (500), after thetimer is started, step (507) proceeds to a step (509), whereby it isdetermined whether at least one of the patient or the environment hasbeen interrupted. According to an exemplary embodiment, the patient hasbeen interrupted if the patient stands up from the examination table,the patient falls from the examination table, and/or the blood pressuredata collection system (400) picks up a noticeable movement of thepatient (e.g., using sensor (308) or room sensor (312)). According to anexemplary embodiment, the environment has been interrupted if ahealthcare provider enters the room or a sound or other distractionoccurs in the room (e.g., using sensor (310) or room sensor (312)). Ifat least one of the patient or environment has been interrupted in step(509), method (500) proceeds back to step (507) and the timer restarts.In other versions of patient data collection method (500), if thepatient and/or environment has been interrupted, step (509)automatically notifies the clinician and the clinician may reenter theroom to address the interruption and restart the process. Thedetermination of whether the patient and/or the environment has beeninterrupted may be based on data provided through the sensors on thepatient or healthcare provider, or by sensors in the examination room,or by the load cells or other weight sensing features of the examinationtable. If step (509) determines that the patient and the environment hasnot been interrupted, step (509) proceeds to a step (511), whereby it isdetermined whether the timer has ended or lapsed. Step (511) loops backto step (509) until it is determined the timer has lapsed. Once thetimer has lapsed, step (511) transitions to a step (513). In someversions of patient data collection method (500), step (509) is omitted,and step (507) proceeds directly to step (511), whereby step (511) loopsback upon itself until it is determined the timer has ended.

In step (513), the patient's blood pressure is measured by way of theblood pressure cuff attached to the patient in step (501). Uponinitiation of step (513), the patient has been sitting in a relaxedmanner for the duration of the timer and preferably out of sight of theclinician. Therefore, the blood pressure measurement obtained in step(513) is taken in a controlled and calm environment and after a periodof time to allow the patient to relax in furtherance of taking anaccurate blood pressure measurement. The potentially stressfulenvironmental factors prior to the blood pressure measurement such aswalking to or moving around in the examination room, interacting with aclinician, or any other undesired factor, are minimized by having thepatient wait for a set amount of time prior to the blood pressuremeasurement.

After step (513), patient data collection method (500) moves to a step(515). In step (515), the clinician is notified that the patient's bloodpressure has been measured. This notification may be facilitated by anotification on a computer screen or status board, actuating theclinician's sensor or another personal electronic device, or by anyother mechanism for alerting the clinician the patient's blood pressurehas been measured and collected. Once the clinician has been notifiedthat the patient's blood pressure has been measured, step (515) proceedsto a step (517).

In step (517), the healthcare provider such as the physician orclinician reviews the measurements and determined whether themeasurements are acceptable. If the measurements are generally in linewith what is expected from the patient, the healthcare provider thenapproves of the measurements and step (517) proceeds to a step (519). Ifthe measurements are not acceptable, the clinician declines themeasurements. As shown in FIG. 6 , in some versions of patient datacollection method (500), after the clinician declines the measurements,patient data collection method (500) proceeds to end. In other versionsof patient data collection method (500), after the clinician declines toaccept the measurements, step (517) proceeds back to step (505) torepeat the measurement collection process, as shown in the dashed line.Measurement results may be accepted or declined by the clinician by anymechanism, including actuation of a physical button or by selecting thepreferred action on a touchscreen or any other input mechanism. As shownin FIG. 6 , upon acceptance of the blood pressure measurements by theclinician, step (515) proceeds to a step (519). While not shown, it isalso envisioned that blood pressure data collection system (400) mayautomatically determine whether the blood pressure measurements arewithin an acceptable range.

In step (519), the blood pressure measurements are stored for furtheruse by the clinician or healthcare facility. For example, the bloodpressure measurements may be transmitted, either through wires orwirelessly, to an electronic medical records system for storage. Oncethe blood pressure measurements are stored in step (519), patient datacollection method (500) terminates. It is also envisioned that the bloodpressure measurements may be manually recorded into the electronicmedical records system or into a physical medical records system.

In other versions of method (500), after the clinician leaves theexamination room, blood pressure measurements of the patient may betaken immediately. After this initial blood pressure measurement istaken, method (500) may wait for a set amount of time and retake theblood pressure measurement. This may be repeated as many times asdesired or configured within the blood pressure data collection system.The collected blood pressure data points may thereafter be averagedtogether or otherwise combined to provide a final measurement. Forexample, the first collected blood pressure reading for the patient maybe discarded and used simply to get the patient used to the bloodpressure collection methodologies. As such, it is also envisioned thatmethod (500) may include multiple blood pressure data points, which maybe averaged to otherwise combined to provide a final measurementSuccessive blood pressure readings may be more accurate in that thepatient is not experiencing the collection method for the first time andmay be in a more relaxed and natural state of rest. Variables such asthe wait time in between each blood pressure collection, number ofmeasurements, or which measurements to use may be configured by a userof the system, such as a particular clinician or may be set by theadministrators of the healthcare environment.

In other versions of method (500), method (500) may be configured tomeasure the pulse rate of the patient. The pulse rate of the patient maybe obtained by partially inflating the blood pressure cuff In someversions, the pulse rate may be monitored and when method (500)determines the patient's pulse rate has leveled out to a calm restingpulse, blood pressure readings may be taken from the patient. In otherversions, the pulse rate may be measured while steps (507, 508, 509) areproceeding and the system is waiting for the timer to end. In eitherconfiguration, the raw pulse data may be fed into the electronic medicalrecord associated with the patient for record keeping and updating ofthe vital statistic.

In other versions of method (500) a digital checklist may be provided ona computer screen, graphical display or other I/O device associated withthe examination room. The checklist is configured to guide the clinicianthrough many of the steps associated with method (500). The checklistmay be provided via software connected with the electronical medicalrecord system and may prompt the clinician to acquire or collect variousdata points for insertion into the medical record associated with thepatient. For example, the checklist may include a first entry related tocollecting the weight of the patient or to actuate a digital button toinitiate the blood pressure collection process. This checklist remindsand prompts the clinician of the steps involved in receiving a patientinto the examination room, rather than initiating some of the stepsthrough actuation by the scale of the examination table or similarautomatic processes. In these versions of method (500), the checklistprompts the clinician to manually actuate the steps.

ii. Second Patient Data Collection Method

As shown in FIG. 7 , a patient data collection method (600) may be usedwithin patient data collection system (1) for collecting a patient'sblood pressure within a healthcare environment. Patient data collectionmethod (600) may be incorporated into portions of patient datacollection method (500) or may be used independently from patient datacollection method (500). Patient data collection method (600) may beginwith a step (601), whereby a patient uses a restroom and to empty thepatient's bladder. This step may be aided by providing directions to therestroom via a wearable tag or other personal electronic device providedto the patient. Further, the use of the restroom may be monitored by wayof a sensor tag worn or carried by the user and a corresponding roomsensor provided in the bathroom. FIG. 4 provides an example embodimentof this interaction through sensor (308) and bathroom (318) having roomsensor (316) disposed therein. As the patient enters and leaves bathroom(318), sensor (308) interacts with room sensor (316) to determine thepatient spent time within bathroom (318). Thereafter step (601) moves toa step (603).

In step (603), the patient moves from the restroom to the examinationroom. This step may be aided by providing directions from the restroomto the examination room via a wearable tag or other personal electronicdevice provided to the patient. The patient's entering of theexamination room may be monitored by way of a sensor tag worn or carriedby the user and corresponding to a room sensor provided in theexamination room. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 , sensor(308) may interact with room sensor (312) to determine when the patiententers examination room. Upon entry of the patient into the examinationroom, step (603) moves to a step (605).

In step (605), the clinician is notified the patient is within theexamination room. As discussed in more detail above, the notificationprocess may involve an indication on a computer screen or other displayassociated with the clinician or any other visual or audible indicator.Alternatively, a wearable tag or other personal electronic deviceassociated with the clinician may be used to indicate the patient iswithin the examination room. The notification may be actuated by theexamination table sensing a weight thereon as the patient sits down ontothe examination table. This increase in weight, as sensed by the scaleof the examination table, triggers or actuates a mechanism forindicating to the clinician that the patient is within the examinationroom. Once the clinician is notified the patient is within theexamination room, patient data collection method (600) terminates.

III. Exemplary Combinations

The following examples relate to various non-exhaustive ways in whichthe teachings herein may be combined or applied. It should be understoodthat the following examples are not intended to restrict the coverage ofany claims that may be presented at any time in this application or insubsequent filings of this application. No disclaimer is intended. Thefollowing examples are being provided for nothing more than merelyillustrative purposes. It is contemplated that the various teachingsherein may be arranged and applied in numerous other ways. It is alsocontemplated that some variations may omit certain features referred toin the below examples. Therefore, none of the aspects or featuresreferred to below should be deemed critical unless otherwise explicitlyindicated as such at a later date by the inventors or by a successor ininterest to the inventors. If any claims are presented in thisapplication or in subsequent filings related to this application thatinclude additional features beyond those referred to below, thoseadditional features shall not be presumed to have been added for anyreason relating to patentability.

EXAMPLE 1

A method of collecting patient data, the method comprising: (a) startinga timer; and (b) upon expiration of the timer, actuating a bloodpressure data collection system to obtain a blood pressure measurementfrom a patient disposed in a room of a healthcare facility.

EXAMPLE 2

The disclosure of the previous Example or any of the subsequentExamples, further comprising: (a) sensing an event with an environmentalsensor system associated with the healthcare facility; and (b) inresponse to sensing the event, starting the timer.

EXAMPLE 3

The disclosure of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, whereinthe event comprises a clinician associated with the healthcare facilityleaving the room.

EXAMPLE 4

The disclosure of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, furthercomprising: (a) sensing an interruption with the environmental sensorsystem; and (b) in response to sensing the interruption, terminating thetimer.

EXAMPLE 5

The disclosure of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, whereinthe interruption comprises a person entering the room.

EXAMPLE 6

The disclosure of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, whereinthe event comprises a person moving within a healthcare facility.

EXAMPLE 7

The disclosure of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, whereinthe event comprises the patient moving into a preferred position.

EXAMPLE 8

The disclosure of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, whereinthe preferred position is based at least in part on a foot of thepatient resting on a floor.

EXAMPLE 9

The disclosure of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, whereinthe preferred position is based at least in part on an arm of thepatient positioned at a particular height.

EXAMPLE 10

The disclosure of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, whereinthe event comprises the patient moving from a bathroom associated withthe healthcare facility into the room.

EXAMPLE 11

The disclosure of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, whereinthe event comprises placement of a blood pressure cuff associated withthe blood pressure data collection system on the patient.

EXAMPLE 12

The disclosure of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, furthercomprising, in response to obtaining the blood pressure measurement ofthe patient, notifying a clinician associated with the healthcarefacility and not in the room the blood pressure measurement has beenobtained.

EXAMPLE 13

The disclosure of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, furthercomprising: (a) providing the blood pressure measurement to theclinician; and (b) prompting the clinician to accept or reject the bloodpressure measurement.

EXAMPLE 14

The disclosure of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, furthercomprising, in response to the clinician rejecting the blood pressuremeasurement: (a) starting the timer; and (b) upon expiration of thetimer, actuating the blood pressure data collection system to obtain asecond blood pressure measurement from the patient.

EXAMPLE 15

The disclosure of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, furthercomprising, in response to the clinician accepting the blood pressuremeasurement, storing the blood pressure measurement in an electronicmedical record associated with the patient.

EXAMPLE 16

A method of collecting patient data, the method comprising: (a) startinga timer;

and (b) upon expiration of the timer, electronically actuating a bloodpressure cuff connected to a patient disposed in a room of a healthcarefacility to obtain a blood pressure measurement of the patient.

EXAMPLE 17

The disclosure of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, furthercomprising: (a) sensing a clinician associated with the healthcarefacility leaving the room; and (b) in response to sensing the clinicianleaving the room, starting the timer.

EXAMPLE 18

The disclosure of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, furthercomprising: (a) sensing the clinician entering the room; and (b) inresponse to sensing the clinician entering the room, terminating thetimer.

EXAMPLE 19

The disclosure of any of the previous or subsequent Examples, furthercomprising preventing the blood pressure cuff from obtaining a bloodpressure measurement of the patient while the clinician is within theroom.

EXAMPLE 20

A method of collecting patient data, the method comprising: (a) sensingan event within a healthcare facility via an environmental sensor systemassociated with the healthcare facility, wherein the event is based atleast in part on movement of a person within the healthcare facility;(b) based on sensing the event, starting a timer; (c) upon expiration ofthe timer, actuating a blood pressure data collection system to obtain ablood pressure measurement of a patient disposed in a room of thehealthcare facility.

IV. Miscellaneous

It should be understood that any of the examples described herein mayinclude various other features in addition to or in lieu of thosedescribed above. By way of example only, any of the examples describedherein may also include one or more of the various features disclosed inany of the various references that are incorporated by reference herein.

It should be understood that any one or more of the teachings,expressions, embodiments, examples, etc. described herein may becombined with any one or more of the other teachings, expressions,embodiments, examples, etc. that are described herein. Theabove-described teachings, expressions, embodiments, examples, etc.should therefore not be viewed in isolation relative to each other.Various suitable ways in which the teachings herein may be combined willbe readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of theteachings herein. Such modifications and variations are intended to beincluded within the scope of the claims.

It should be appreciated that any patent, publication, or otherdisclosure material, in whole or in part, that is said to beincorporated by reference herein is incorporated herein only to theextent that the incorporated material does not conflict with existingdefinitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth in thisdisclosure. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure asexplicitly set forth herein supersedes any conflicting materialincorporated herein by reference. Any material, or portion thereof, thatis said to be incorporated by reference herein, but which conflicts withexisting definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forthherein will only be incorporated to the extent that no conflict arisesbetween that incorporated material and the existing disclosure material.

Having shown and described various versions of the present invention,further adaptations of the methods and systems described herein may beaccomplished by appropriate modifications by one of ordinary skill inthe art without departing from the scope of the present invention.Several of such potential modifications have been mentioned, and otherswill be apparent to those skilled in the art. For instance, theexamples, versions, geometrics, materials, dimensions, ratios, steps,and the like discussed above are illustrative and are not required.Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be considered interms of the following claims and is understood not to be limited to thedetails of structure and operation shown and described in thespecification and drawings.

I/we claim:
 1. A method of collecting patient data, the methodcomprising: (a) starting a timer; and (b) upon expiration of the timer,actuating a blood pressure data collection system to obtain a bloodpressure measurement from a patient disposed in a room of a healthcarefacility.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: (a) sensing anevent with an environmental sensor system associated with the healthcarefacility; and (b) in response to sensing the event, starting the timer.3. The method of claim 2, wherein the event comprises a clinicianassociated with the healthcare facility leaving the room.
 4. The methodof claim 2, further comprising: (a) sensing an interruption with theenvironmental sensor system; and (b) in response to sensing theinterruption, terminating the timer.
 5. The method of claim 4, whereinthe interruption comprises a person entering the room.
 6. The method ofclaim 2, wherein the event comprises a person moving within a healthcarefacility. The method of claim 2, wherein the event comprises the patientmoving into a preferred position.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein thepreferred position is based at least in part on a foot of the patientresting on a floor.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the preferredposition is based at least in part on an arm of the patient positionedat a particular height.
 10. The method of claim 2, wherein the eventcomprises the patient moving from a bathroom associated with thehealthcare facility into the room.
 11. The method of claim 2, whereinthe event comprises placement of a blood pressure cuff associated withthe blood pressure data collection system on the patient.
 12. The methodof claim 1, further comprising, in response to obtaining the bloodpressure measurement of the patient, notifying a clinician associatedwith the healthcare facility and not in the room the blood pressuremeasurement has been obtained.
 13. The method of claim 12, furthercomprising: (a) providing the blood pressure measurement to theclinician; and (b) prompting the clinician to accept or reject the bloodpressure measurement.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising, inresponse to the clinician rejecting the blood pressure measurement: (a)starting the timer; and (b) upon expiration of the timer, actuating theblood pressure data collection system to obtain a second blood pressuremeasurement from the patient.
 15. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising, in response to the clinician accepting the blood pressuremeasurement, storing the blood pressure measurement in an electronicmedical record associated with the patient.
 16. A method of collectingpatient data, the method comprising: (a) starting a timer; and (b) uponexpiration of the timer, electronically actuating a blood pressure cuffconnected to a patient disposed in a room of a healthcare facility toobtain a blood pressure measurement of the patient.
 17. The method ofclaim 16, further comprising: (a) sensing a clinician associated withthe healthcare facility leaving the room; and (b) in response to sensingthe clinician leaving the room, starting the timer.
 18. The method ofclaim 17, further comprising: (a) sensing the clinician entering theroom; and (b) in response to sensing the clinician entering the room,terminating the timer.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprisingpreventing the blood pressure cuff from obtaining a blood pressuremeasurement of the patient while the clinician is within the room.
 20. Amethod of collecting patient data, the method comprising: (a) sensing anevent within a healthcare facility via an environmental sensor systemassociated with the healthcare facility, wherein the event is based atleast in part on movement of a person within the healthcare facility;(b) based on sensing the event, starting a timer; and (c) uponexpiration of the timer, actuating a blood pressure data collectionsystem to obtain a blood pressure measurement of a patient disposed in aroom of the healthcare facility.